Gold medal favourites New Zealand suffered a shock defeat to Japan in their opening rugby sevens match of this summer's Olympics.

New Zealand have been dealt a major blow with news that Sonny Bill Williams is set to be until at least Spring due to injury.

NIK SIMON IN WELLINGTON: The centre was sent off after 25 minutes at the Westpac Stadium, where the Lions kept the series alive with a famous 24-21 victory.

Williams was sent off by French referee Jerome Garces during New Zealand's second Test defeat against the British and Irish Lions in Wellington last month.

EXCLUSIVE BY NIK SIMON: The ambitious Manchester club are understood to have made contact with Williams’ representatives through a third party earlier this week.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has defended Sonny Bill Williams from criticism in the New Zealand media, praising the midfielder's 'hard work' on the field after a long comeback from injury.

Jerome Kaino, Patrick Tuipulotu, Codie Taylor, Nepo Laulala, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen and Kieran Read hit the gym, along with centre Sonny Bill Williams, who wore a Manchester United shirt.

Sonny Bill Williams has come under fire for a social media post which shows his daughter riding in the back of a convertible in the Cook Islands, but can you spot what's wrong with it?

Sonny Bill Williams has hit back at critics after he was slammed over a photo showing his daughter Imaan, three, riding in a vehicle without a car seat during the family's recent trip to the Cook Islands.

The unlikely reunion comes as the South African and Australian teams are embroiled in a stoush over degrading comments made towards Warner about his wife's fling with SBW.

Candice Warner has apologised to former NRL star Sonny Bill Williams and his family after their 2007 'toilet tryst' was dredged up in the media earlier this year

All Blacks centre Sonny Bill Williams revealed on Friday that the surgery he undertook for a knee injury that ruled him out of this month's test series against France had been successful.

Sonny Bill Williams brought some hilarity to his hospital nurses after receiving surgery last week. 

Sonny Bill Williams has welcomed his first son.

All Blacks star Sonny Bill Williams held a traditional Islamic birth ceremony for his newborn son, Zaid.   

Doting Daddy! NRL star Sonny Bill Williams posts adorable father-son snap to his Instagram

Candice Warner, the wife of former Australian cricket David Warner, has finally broken her silence after he husband was banished from the national team earlier this year.

Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson shared his shock at the brawl that followed Khabib Nurmagomedov's UFC 229 submission win over Conor McGregor.

New Zealand centre Sonny Bill Williams says he feels 'blessed' to be winning his 50th cap for the All Blacks against Australia in the third Bledisloe Cup test in Yokohama on Saturday.

WILL KELLEHER: New Zealand face Australia in the third instalment of this year’s Bledisloe Cup – but this one is being played in Japan. Who, what, why, where, when? Sportsmail can guide you through.

Sonny Bill Williams' wretched year went from bad to worse on Saturday as the New Zealand centre appears likely to have finished an injury-plagued campaign with a shoulder issue.

Williams suffered a shoulder injury during the match at Twickenham and was ruled out of the clash in Dublin, which will see the world Nos 1 and 2 go head-to-head in the autumn international.

Stu Laundy, 45, admits to Daily Mail Australia that he will get knocked out by Sonny Bill Williams, 33, during a charity boxing match in Sydney on Saturday.

He's set to go head-to-head with The Bachelorette's Stu Laundy in a charity boxing match on Saturday.

Stu Laundy, 46, is set to fight against Sonny Bill Williams, 33, in a charity boxing match on Saturday.

Stu Laundy is about to face-off against Sonny Bill Williams in the boxing ring.

His boxing match victory against All Blacks champion, Sonny Bill Williams was the result no one saw coming.

All Blacks centre Sonny Bill Williams has indicated that this year could be his last at the Auckland Blues. Williams, a two-times Rugby World Cup winner, is out of contract following the global showpiece.

Sonny Bill Williams joined thousands of fellow Muslims and New Zealanders for Friday prayers in Christchurch as the country remembered the victims of last week's shooting.

The 33-year-old shared joyous snaps from his graduation ceremony, at Otago Polytechnic, on Wednesday, proving it's possible to balance professional sporting commitments with study.

The 33-year-old athlete arrived back in New Zealand after the All Blacks faced off against Argentina in Buenos Aires on Sunday. And his return caught his daughters by surprise.

Sonny Bill Williams has expressed his disappointment at a picture of himself and fellow Muslim Ofa Tuungafasi praying before a World Cup match being taken down from Instagram.  

Sonny Bill Williams is expecting a fourth child with his wife Alana Raffie.

The Canadian outfit are on the lookout for big-name signings following their promotion from the Championship and intend to follow up on their initial approach once his Rugby World Cup is over.

Cross-code star Williams, 34, has reportedly been approached the join the Toronto Wolfpack for the Canadian side's first season in the English Super League.

Toronto have confirmed they are in fresh talks with All Black Sonny Bill Williams. Wolfpack head coach Brian McDermott revealed that the dual-code international had expressed an interest.

Toronto Wolfpack are closing in on the signing of the dual-code international, who played his last match for the All Blacks in the World Cup bronze medal win over Wales in Tokyo last Friday.

Toronto Wolfpack are eyeing a move for England star Manu Tuilagi in a cross-code deal. The ambitious Super League side are already closing in on a deal for Sonny Bill Williams.

Holmes - who joined the New York Jets this season after ditching the NRL - is the next star on the Canadian side's wishlist.

Samoa coach Matt Parish will approach Sonny Bill Williams about representing the nation if he returns to rugby league with Toronto Wolfpack in the English Super League.

The 34-year-old will be officially unveiled at a press conference at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium next Thursday and join up with his new team-mates after a period of rest and recovery.

David Argyle, 58, majority owner of Toronto Wolfpack, has already claimed a huge scalp by signing cross-code star Sonny Bill Williams to a $10 million deal.

DANIEL MATTHEWS AT THE EMIRATES: Sonny Bill Williams has revealed he began plotting his record move to Toronto Wolfpack the day after the All Blacks' defeat by England.

Former AFL star Hall, 42, will take on NRL great Gallen, 38, in Melbourne's Margaret Court Arena. Former All Blacks star Williams, 34, will be watching closely.

Hogg said he would be 'very annoyed' if one of his Scotland team-mates was so quick to move on from their own exit at this year's showpiece in Japan.

Photos have emerged of a relaxed Sonny Bill Williams in fit shape in Byron Bay on the NSW far north coast as he prepares for his comeback to rugby league.

Sonny Bill Williams flaunted his ripped physique as he took time out from his rigorous training regime to spend some family time at the beach. 

Sonny Bill Williams slammed China's treatment of the Uyghur minority in a tweet on Monday. Williams made similar comments about the issue as Arsenal's Mesut Ozil.

A Chinese website has angrily mocked rugby union and league star Sonny Bill Williams for speaking out against the Communist superpower's treatment of its Muslim Uyghur minority.

Sonny Bill Williams, 34, has refused to wear the Betfred logo on his Toronto Wolfpack kit as he follows Islam, which forbids any form of gambling or betting.